Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 935

Lee Han smacked his lips, regretting that he had acted like a businessman who only cares about money.

He wanted to tell a story about Stedal Nago. After the bone-bloom trading trouble, Stedal Nago made a smart choice. He put his money in the Miners Guild, which was safe. He became very rich because of this, not by trusting the Magic Tower.

This story would show people that Stedal Nago was wise to be careful of wizards.

Magic Towers and Wizards Guilds were not safe places to put your money. They were often changing, and you never knew if they would be successful.

“Please wait here for a moment. Another noble will be joining us shortly,” Arian said.

“Who might that be?” Lee Han asked.

“Hmm, this one is rather difficult. He is arrogant and stubborn. It’s best to just say hello and then talk to others after we get to the palace.”

Amur, who was next to him, looked puzzled. “Why are we traveling with such a person?”

“A merchant can’t only spend time with people they like, can they? This person is looking for someone to support him, and I am helping him.”

The Kaaco Trading Company was very large in the Empire, and Arian was in charge of many things.

One of those things was helping young nobles find patrons by introducing them at social events and making sure everything went smoothly.

In return, the trading company made connections with noble families and made them thankful.

“Oh dear. He sounds like a terrible person. He seems difficult,” Amur said.

“We can just talk to each other and not talk to him,” Lee Han replied.

“Thank you, Amur. You’re the only one I can count on…”

Suddenly, the carriage door swung open with a small *thump*. A figure waddled in, filling the doorway. It was Alsicle, a wizard who was also a penguin beast-man. He wore a heavy coat, dark blue like a winter night, and covered in shiny silver snowflakes. Each snowflake was carefully stitched, catching the light as he moved.

Alsicle didn’t say anything.

“Greetings,” Arian said.

“Welcome, Pengaerin.”

“Yes. I look forward to working with you. This one is…”

“This is Stedal of the Nago family,” Arian said.

“Is that so.”

Alsicle answered casually and plopped down on the long seat in the carriage.

Then, clicking his beak, he muttered, “I don’t want to go…”

“Pengaerin!” Arian said sharply.

“…So, sorry.”

Alsicle straightened up at Arian’s sharp words.

Lee Han realized that the gathering was about to start. Weren’t the others in the carriage also going?

“But… these people aren’t patrons.”

“That’s right. But rumors can leak out anytime, anywhere. Even though these individuals are discreet, you must still be careful, Pengaerin.”

“…Why do patrons only gather at theater meetings? Why can’t they gather to watch magic experiments at the Magic Tower?” Alsicle asked, sounding annoyed.

The only reason Alsicle, the arrogant and stubborn penguin beast-man wizard, would go to such theater meetings was simple.

That’s where the patrons were!

Alsicle needed to find patrons for his new research, so he had to go, even if the play was boring and terrible.

‘Sniff. I really don’t want to go,’ he thought.

Amur whispered from beside him, looking confused. “Aren’t magic experiments popular? I think I saw something in the Imperial newspaper?”

Amur remembered seeing articles in the Imperial newspaper like, >All the patrons who gathered to watch the magic experiment at the Treeroot Magic Tower had their hair turned into branches!>

Even with such accidents, magic experiments were still interesting enough that people kept coming.

“They are popular, but it depends on the type of magic,” Arian explained.

“Ah.”

Usually, schools like black magic didn’t get many people, even if they offered to show experiments.

Sometimes, undertakers or a few others would ask if there was any work.

Lee Han thought Alsicle’s research probably wouldn’t be very popular either.

First of all, it was too cold.

‘There’s no reason for rich people to pay money and go to a cold place just to shiver,’ he thought.

Snowflakes might be pretty up close, but they quickly became boring from far away.

Alsicle, curious about their whispering, asked Arian, “Is Nago very rich?”

“…Well, Nago was captured by pirates in the southern part of the Empire, but Lagesa, the daughter of Torgeird, who leads a privateer fleet, rescued him. He made a lot of money by finding a treasure map he got while captured by the pirates. Since then, he has been doing alchemy, creating potions and making even more money…”

“!”

Alsicle’s eyes widened at Arian’s smooth explanation.

He had thought he was just some noble going to see a play, but he was so rich!

Alsicle adjusted his coat.

‘I should have brought a can of sardines,’ he thought.

Hoping there would be sardines at the palace, Alsicle spoke. “Nago, I am very impressed by your luck and smarts. I was amazed that you made money during the bone-bloom trading trouble. Are you interested in cryogenic magic research…”

“Alsicle, I’m Wardanaz in disguise,” Lee Han interrupted.

“…You!!!”

Alsicle shouted, feeling betrayed.

He was playing with his feelings!

“Why are you dressed like that?” Lee Han leaned closer and whispered, “You look like you’re trying to hide.”

Alsicle sighed, “It’s a disguise. To help my friends, the theater students, get away from Einroguard.”

“…I shouldn’t have asked,” Alsicle said, regretting it.

Unlike him, who didn’t want to go to the play, this boy from the Wardanaz family was trying to help his friends.

“Why is Einroguard bothering the students so much?” Lee Han wondered.

“I wonder about that too. More importantly, Alsicle, do you know much about theater?”

Alsicle’s face darkened at Lee Han’s question.

Alsicle didn’t know much about culture and arts.

“Not really,” he admitted.

“It’s alright. I’ve prepared something,” Lee Han said.

“!”

Alsicle’s face lit up again.

It was good to hear the boy from the Wardanaz family say that.

He was from a great noble family, and if he was saying that much…

“Let me tell you about a few simple plays. Two heirs from opposing families fall in love…”

“They both die, and a lich comes out and revives them? I know that one,” Alsicle interrupted.

Lee Han stared at Alsicle, shocked and betrayed.

Why had he pretended not to know about theater when he clearly did?

‘How can a person be so cowardly?’ he thought.

“Ah, no…! This is like basic knowledge! Who hasn’t seen this!” Alsicle exclaimed.

“…Do you know this one too? A poor girl wants to go to a ball and cries her eyes out…”

“A lich comes out and gives her a dress and a glass sword, right? She kills the demon disguised as a prince? Later, the real prince reveals the girl’s identity by swinging the sword…”

“Alsicle, I don’t think you need my help,” Lee Han said.

“O-okay,” Alsicle replied.

Alsicle was even more shocked that a wizard like Wardanaz would say such a thing.

Even a woodcutter living in the northern mountains would have seen that play if they went down to the village…

The destination was slowly coming into view.

It was a famous place in Granden City called >The Old King’s Palace<, which used to be a palace but was now a banquet hall. Several fancy carriages were already there. Alsicle whispered to Lee Han, "If there’s anyone who looks like they’d support my research, will you let me know?" "Then, will you help me get my friends to escape?" Lee Han asked. The two wizards shook hands firmly. Arian and Amur watched, pleased. "Then, have a good time. I’ll be waiting here," Arian said. After saying goodbye, the two wizards walked towards the palace. Lee Han looked around, trying to find useful people. "Alsicle, that person over there looks like a wizard from Dreamscape Mirage," Lee Han said. "Wardanaz," Alsicle replied. "Yes?" "Wizards are all broke, so I’m not interested! Find a patron!" 'There are exceptions like Baldrogaard, though,' Lee Han thought. Lee Han nodded. He didn’t see any reason to befriend the wizards here. It would be hard to get support, and they might get in the way when Lee Han caused trouble later… "Clvik, how should we time the magic for when the play starts?" someone asked. "Practice and hard work! The wizards here are talented, but they need to work hard to use that talent," Clvik said seriously, looking at the illusion wizards. Clvik was at the palace not only to provide the magic for the play but also to teach the illusion wizards he was helping. Some Magic Towers shared information only among themselves, but there were also groups that traveled the Empire, sharing information to improve everyone’s skills. Dreamscape Mirage, which Clvik belonged to, was one of the latter. It made sense since Ogonin was important in the illusion magic school. Clvik was teaching the illusion wizards in Granden City without getting paid. Because of this, the illusion wizards respected him. "Don’t worry too much. I will check everything. Prepare the magic you are in charge of!" Clvik said. Lee Han was interested in the illusion wizards’ conversation. They were preparing the magic for the play. If he could help, it would be good for getting the students to escape later. "It seems like they’re preparing the magic for the play? I’d like to help," Lee Han said. "Ugh. I told you it doesn’t make money…" Alsicle grumbled but didn’t say no. It would help the Einroguard students escape if he helped prepare the play. Since they were watching closely, they would need to find openings to succeed. "It would be better for Alsicle of the Pengaerin family to ask than Stedal of the Nago family. By the way, that name sounds familiar, is it a real family?" Lee Han asked. "No. It’s the headmaster’s name spelled backwards," Alsicle replied. Alsicle looked at him like he was crazy and then walked towards the wizards. Hearing Alsicle’s family and name, Clvik agreed. "It would be an honor! You can help as much as you want. You can even teach the wizards here!" "Thank you. …Is that it?" Alsicle asked Lee Han. Lee Han looked shocked. "What’s wrong? Is there a problem?" Alsicle asked. "Baldororeun is over there!" Lee Han exclaimed. Even though most of his face was covered, Lee Han recognized him. That was Baldororeun, the great illusion wizard of Philone Village. "...Huh? Really?!" Alsicle exclaimed, startled. Alsicle had heard of the illusion wizard who taught Wardanaz magic during the vacation. -So Baldororeun is… -It’s amazing that Baldororeun is… -Honestly, Baldororeun seems more amazing than Ogonin? -You’re free to think that, but it’s probably best not to say that in front of people from the illusion magic school. "Who is it? Is it that person? No, he looks ordinary?" Alsicle asked. "Isn’t it said that extraordinary abilities are hidden within ordinariness?" Lee Han asked respectfully. A true strongman hides his skills. "I had some concerns about magic anyway, so I should talk to him," Alsicle said. "Wait. Wait. Alsicle. Look at Baldororeun now," Lee Han said. Lee Han pointed at the other person. The other person had almost completely covered his face as if he didn’t want to see someone he knew. He had another reason for being here. "He must have another purpose like us. Let’s not bother him," Lee Han said. "Indeed… That’s a shame. I wanted to talk to him. But what reason could he have for doing such simple work?" Alsicle wondered.